“Have I told you lately that I love you?
Can I tell you once again, somehow?
Have I told with all my heart and soul how I adore you?
Well, darling, I’m telling you now.”
If you are not familiar with the above wordings, it is a very stellar song that was sang a while back, by Michael Buble. Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, February 14th is upon us and tis the season of love.
First and foremost, everybody is tired! and by everybody, I mean single people that know they’ll not receive any gift for this valentines day. Now, while that in itself is not bad at all, on behalf of the single people, we’re just being single people because attention has been shifted to the people in relationships like they’re the only ones that matter. A valentine vendor that has created tons of packages and has obviously been patronized, reading this would obviously shout a “ Hell yeah!” because “anywhere way belle face, na front.” We understand, enjoy.
Continuing to list out some valentine clichés that even if we’re tired of, we have to go through them every single year: Parararan [Trumpet people], Money cake, Proposals, Love Letters and Love notes. Meanwhile, in as much as I would love to list out only positive things that co-notes the 14th of February, you’ll agree with me that you’ll also see things on the other side of the divide like: Situationships and one sided relationships trending on Linda Ikeji and Insta blog, People chopping breakfast[ break-up] after valentine’s day, Sugar daddy doings, The cry cry people, People that will buy gifts for themselves and pretend anonymous sent it for them. The list is long but you guys get the gist.
Now, I’m not going to bore you by telling you about the history of Valentine, I mean, that’s why you have google at your closest proximity. My only assignment today is to tell you about love and try to expose you to a love that still exists.
Top of my list, being: Stop saying “true love”. Ladies and Gents, stop using a quality of love to further qualify love. Yes, I know the intent is the degree expressed. However, I believe that if you understand love and the person you are with understands it to the same reasonable degree, you absolutely do not need to be saying true love “Upandan”
Love is a very broad word that cuts across over the 4,000 emotions human beings have. Emotions are honestly feelings because they are really what we feel. Therefore, unlearn the narrative that “love is not a feeling” Again, I understand that you’re trying to portray the magnitude of love. However, love is a feeling but it is more than a feeling. The “more”, stemming from your understanding of it.
I know that you probably agreed with Adekunle Gold when he said in his song… “Love is not enough, baby come to me molowo” However, love is extremely enough and the measurement of it being enough is below:
Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
The manual has been set for love, all of which is hinged upon daily sacrificing, submitting to learning, intentionality and ultimately growing to be the best version of yourself before you radiate the understanding of that love to anybody because it is quite simple, you cannot give what you do not have. You only love to the extent to which you understand love and if that understanding is flawed, then you’re heading for a disaster and will definitely bleed on people.
It takes two to tango in a healthy love setting. Be it in a relationship or friendship, amongst family and the likes. Beyond even romantic relationships, many people have boxed love to just an expression of intimate acts to opposite genders and do not know how to show love to their friends and family in the most amazing way which is extremely sad because you need to have friends in your circle that stick closer than brothers and it is only through love that it works.
Summarily, Valentine’s day is like every other day. Yes, it’s a day that society has chosen to make love radical. However, when the day is over, remember to love yourself every other day , remember to have a love affair with yourself and understand you with so much depth because it is only from this type of love that you extend love to others in the most wholesome way. Yes, and if you do “fall” In love like they say, fall hard but make sure the other person is not catching you but holding your hands and falling right with you. And like a water fall, both of you will fall to freedom and define your own love.
Watch my Valentine talk on YouTube👇🏾
Or listen to the podcast 👇🏾
https://anchor.fm/lois80/episodes/A-NIGERIAN-VALENTINE-IN-CANADA-e1e86i0
Inspiration with Lois| Lifestyle | Nigeria 